Assembling mechanism of typographical composing-machines.



J E. BILLINGTON 8; G. HOLLIW ELL. ASSEMBLING MECHANISM OF TYPOGRAPHICAL GOMPOSING MACHINES.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 18, 1908.

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J. E. BILLINGTON &'G. HOLLIWELL.

ASSEMBLING MECHANISM or TYPOGRAPHICAL oomrosme MACHINES.

APITLIOATION FILED APR 18, 190B. 923,131

Patented June 1. 1909.

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i v J. E. BILLINGTON 5 G. HOLLIWELL. ASSEMBLING MEGHANISM 0F TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MAGHINES. APPLIOATION FILED APR. 13. 1908. I 923,131. Patented June 1,1909.

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J. E. BILLINGTON 6: G. HO LLIW ELL. ASSEMBLING MEOHANISM 0F TYPOGRAPHICAL comosme MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 18, 1908. 923,1 3 1.

Patented June 1. 1909.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN ERNEST BILLINGTON AND CHARLES HOLLIWELL, OF BROADHEATH, ALTRINOHAM, ENGLAND.

ASSEMBLING- MECHANISM OF TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING- MAGHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 18, 1908.

Patented June 1, 1909.

Serial No. 427,854.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN ERNEST BILL- INGTON and CHARLES HoLLIwELL, subjects of the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and residing at the Linotype and Machinery WVorks, Broadheath, Altrincham, in the county of Chester, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in the Assembling Mechanism of Typographical Composing-Machines, of which following is a specification.

This invention consists of improvements in the assembling mechanism of that type of typographical composing machines in which the assemblerthe organ which receives the assembled line or the elements (say, matrices or type dies and space bars) of the assembled line, one by one, as they are released by the operator from their respective magazines-is moved away, with the assembled line in it, from the assembling position, to deliver the said line to the next organ of the machine, and then returned to that position to enable the operator to assemble the next line. The expression enable is used advisedly because assembling is impossible unless the assembler is in position to receive the elements of the line asthey are released by the operator. It is, therefore, a characteristic of this type of machine that in assembling any line, the time taken up by (a) the travel of the assembler from the assembling position, (7)) the delivery of the assembled line to the next organ of the machine, and (0) the return of the assembler to the assembling position, is lost.

The object of the invention is improved mechanism to prevent-this loss of time and the various novel constructive features, and cooperative connections and combinations, whereby the constituent elements of the mechanism are properly timed, positioned, and operative to-produce advantageous, accurate and safe working will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention is especially applicable to the Mergenthaler linotype machine described in the specification of Letters Patent 486,532 of 1890, and for that reason, such application of it has been chosen for description as a practical embodiment of the nature of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying figures which are to be taken as part of this specification and read therewith, Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, showing an assembled .line transferred into the assembler elevator, the latter still in register with the preliminary assembler but on the point of rising to deliver the line to the shifter, the preliminary assembler set for the assembling of the next line, the automatic transferring means waiting to be returned to its normal position, and the special finger key and its controlling connections returned to their normal position: Fig. 2, an enlarged section on the line 22 of Fig. 1 looking from the left hand: Fig. 3, a part plan: Fig. 1, a side elevation from the right hand of Fig. 1: Fig. 5, a plan of the special finger key and its clutch: Fig. 6, a detail front elevation, partly in section, of the same clutch: Fig. 7, aside elevation of the clutch from the left hand: Fig. 8, a detail elevation from the right hand of the transferring finger: Fig. 9, a detail front elevation of the slide that connects the transferring finger and the preliminary resistant with the clutch: Fig. 10, a front elevation showing the two terminal positions of the shifting lever, the assembler elevator in the act of delivering the assembled line to the shifter, the transferring finger returned into its normal position, the first portion of the next line assembled in the preliminary assembler and the principal resistant on the point of returning to supplant the preliminary resistant: Fig. 11, a detail front elevation of the first stage in the return of the transferring finger: Fig. 12, a detail front elevation showing the said return on the point of being completed: Fig. 13, a detail front elevation showing the principal resistant supplanting the preliminary one; and Fig. 14:, a detail front elevation showing the principal resistant supporting the leading element of a line and the preliminary resistant locked out of action but waiting to be put into operative position in connection with the next line.

Parts and organs as heret0f0re.1 is the frame of the machine; 2, the keyboard; 3, the front keyboard roller; 4, the matrix assembler belt; 5, one of its supporting pulleys; 6, the matrix chute from the belt 4 to the constantly rotating assembler wheel 7 at the left hand of which, the elements of the line meet, one after the other, in proper order, to be driven by its arms in that order between the pawls 8, 8, at the entrance mouth of the assembler elevator 9, so called partly because itis the organ in which the elements of the line are assembled and partly because it is raised vertically after each line has been assembled in it, to a higher level; 10, the line resistant fast on the left hand end of the assembler slide bar 11; 12, the left hand and 13, the right hand finger of the line shifter between whose fingers 12, 13, the assembled line is placed by the use of the assembler elevator 9 and by which the said line is shifted out of the latter; 14, the reciprocating lever, 15 its fulcrum in the machine frame, and 16, the link connecting the shifter 12, 13 to its top end, and by which lever the said shifter is moved in one direction to shift the assembled line out of the assembler elevator 9 and in the opposite direction to place the shifter in position ready to receive the next line; 17, a spring actuated detent on the machine frame 1 to hold the shifter 12, 13, in line-receiving position; 18, a pin on the assembler elevator 9 to disengage the said detent from the shifter; 19, the so-called first elevator; 20, its slide working vertically in guides 22, 22, on the vise top 23; and 24, the rotary mold carrier. The first elevator 19 is the organ that receives the assembled line from the shifter 12, 13. Each of the two elevators 9 and 19 consists of a pair of parallel rails between which the assembled line is supported, the assembler elevator 9 being open at both ends, at the right hand end to allow a line to enter and at the left hand end, to allow of it being moved out by the shifter 12, 13. As soon as the first elevator 19 has received a line from the shifter 12, 13, it moves down ward to present it to the mold on the mold carrier 24, holds it there while a linotype is being cast from it, and then rises to a higher level than the one at which it received the said line, to present it to the distributer. The means of returning the principal resistant 10 as well as those for working the line shifter 12, 13 and the first elevator 19 are also as heretofore.

In the machine described in the specification of the patent above-mentioned, the assembler elevator 9 has its right hand end close up to the assembler wheel 7 when it is in the line assembling position. It is the interposition by the present invention of the preliminary assembler between the as sembler wheel 7 and the the assembler elevator 9, that makes the latter, the shifter 12, 13, its detent 17, the first elevator 20, its slide 21 and guides 22, 22, the vise top 23 and the mold carrier 24, occupy a position in a machine embodying the present invention, more to the left, by the length of the preliminary assembler, than they do in the specification just mentioned. It lengthens lever 14 accordingly.

the assembler slide bar 11 by a like amount and modifies the terminal positions of the This explanation is desirable at this point to account for the distance which the respective figures show between the said wheel 7 and the assembler elevator 9. For the reason that the preliminary assembler has its own resistant (hereafter called the preliminary resistant), the resistant 10 is hereafter called the principal resistant to distinguish it.

The raising and lowering of the assembler elevator 9 are, to this day, effected by a hand. lever worked by the operator and assisted by a spring, although automatic means have been proposed for the purpose, 0. 9., such as are described in the specification of Letters Patent 545530 of 1895. But none of these proposals have done more than solve the problem of how to relieve the operators muscles of the work of raising and lowering the assembler elevator. They have left untouched the more important one of preventing the above described loss of time.

The preliminary assembler 25 corresponds with the assembler elevator 9 in cross section and is, preferably, shorter than it but in no case may it be shorter than suffices to contain. the maximum number of line elements that can be assembled during the time that the assembler elevator 9 is out of register with it. It differs from the assembler elevator in being fixed to the machine frame 1 where it has its right hand or entrance mouth close up to the assembler wheel 7 and its left hand or exit mouth in position for the right hand or entrance mouth of the said assembler elevator 9 in register therewith when the said elevator 9 is down in the line-receiving positionFig. 1. When the operator begins to assemble the first line of his take, the principal resistant 10 is held up against the assembler wheel 7 and for the same purpose and by the same means as heretofore; and when that line has been assembled, it will, the preliminary assembler 25 being shorter than the assembler elevator 9, extend into the latter and must then be wholly transferred into it.

Transfer of the assembled line from the preliminary assembler 25 into the assemhler elevator 9.-This is effected by the following means. 26 is a vertical finger supported normally in the plane of the entrance mouth. of the preliminary assembler 25, but clear of it, say above it. This finger 2G slides in the front end of a cross head 27 fast on and projecting to the front from the right hand end of the rod 28 of a piston 29 working in a horizontal cylinder 30 fast on the machine frame 1 above the assembler elevator 9. 31 is a ring fast within the right hand end, 32 the like within the left hand end of the cylinder 30. 33 is a spring resilient between the ring 31 and the piston 29 and therefore tending to move the cross head 27 to the left to make the finger 26 effect the transfer. 34 is a V guide on a bar 35 extending from the ring 31 and engaging in the rear end of the cross head 27 to steady its movements. Its return movement after the transfer has been effected, is described farther on. 36 is a detent pivoted on the frame 1 and kept by a spring 37 in engagement with the cross head 27, to hold it in the plane above-mentioned against the pull of the spring 33. The detent 36 is disengaged from the cross-head 27 to allow of the said transfer, by the operator depressing a special finger key 38 pivoted at 39 011 the key-board 2, rocking between two stops 40, 40, and held normally against the bottom one (because it is usual to actuate the finger keys of a keyboard by depressing them) by a spring 41. This key 38 is as easily and quickly depressed as any of the ordinary finger keys. This is important, because as its depression is followed by the transfer of the assembled line, as well as by the rise and return of the assembled elevator 9, it follows that the only work which the operator has to do, and the only time occupied, between the assembling of two adjacent lines, are the work and time required by the depression of an ordinary finger keyin other words by the assembling of a single element. 42 is a vertically acting slide working in suitable guides fast on the machine frame 1, e. 9., on studs 43, 44. Its top end overhangs the finger 26 and has a notch 45 therein to receive the bent top end 46 of the said finger, the engagement being quite easy and from the left hand in order that the finger 26 may disengage from the slide 42 to make a transfer and reengage therewith previous to having to make the next one. 47 is a spring pulling on a stud 48 fast on the slide 42, from an independent point above, 6. g., the stud 43 and therefore holding the finger 26 in the normal position above described. 49 is a shoulder on the slide 42-it is shown as being the top of a slot 50 thereinheld at a certain distance above a pin 51 projecting rearward from the detent 36, in order that the descent of the slide 42 shall simultaneously place the finger 26 in transferring position and disengage the detent 36 from the cross-head 27. The slide 42 has its opposite end connected by link, lever, and crank mechanism and a self opening clutch controlled by the finger key 38, to some constantly and rapidly rotating shaft of the machine, 6. the shaft 52 of the front keyboard roller 3, the arrangement being such that the depression of the key 38 is followed by the closing of the clutch, that the latter is opened at the end of a single rotation of the shaft 52, that half a rotation of the crank puts the finger 26 in transferring engagement with the respective end of the assembled line, and that the other half rotation returns the slide 42 and the intermediate parts to their normal positions.

The connection illustrated consists of a link 54, a lever 55 fulcrumed at 56 on the frame 1 and having its right hand end connected by the link 54, to the respective end of the slide 42; a link 57 connected by a universal joint 58 to the left hand end of the lever 55; and a second universal oint 59 connecting the opposite end of the said link 57 to the pin 60 of the crank mechanism: a

prolongation to the left hand of the shaft I 52; the boss 61 of a half crank loose on the said prolongation; the crank pin 60 already mentioned; a fixed fork 62 embracing an annular recess in the periphery of the boss 61 to prevent it moving laterally; a spring bar 63 fast to the right hand face of the boss 61 at one end of a diametrical slot therein, the said bar being continued around the said prolongation and carrying a cam 64 on its outer end outside and clear of the periphery of a disk 65 fast on the shaft 52; 66, 66 a series of equal pins arranged in a circle on the left face of the disk 65 and projecting therefrom toward the spring bar 63, and between any two of which pins, the resilience of the bar 63 tends to place it; a lever 67 fulcrumed at a fixed point 68 to the rear of the disk 65 and hav ing on its front end a cam 69 oppositely inclined to the cam 64 but positioned to engage with the latter as it is carried around by the disk 65 and to disengage the said cam 64 therefrom; and a link 7 0 from a point on the lever 67 between its fulcrum 68 and its cam 69, to the rear end of the finger key 38. The function of the two joints 58, 59, is to allow of the circular motion of the crank pin 60 and the reciprocating motion of the lever 55 cotiperating.

The links and levers of the mechanism just described constitute no more than a connection between the finger key 38 and the slide 42. Any other equivalent connection may be substituted for it. The only function of the half crank 60, 61, is to convert the rotary motion of the shaft 52 into a reciprocating linear one on the part of the slide 42. The top or normal position of the latter in which it is held by the spring 47, coincides with the bottom dead point in the path of the crank pin 60, this coincidence assisting the spring 47.

Rise and return of the assembler elevator 9.The assembler elevator 9 is held locked in register with the preliminary assembler 25 during the assembling of a line, by a bell crank lever 71 fulcrumed on the machine frame 1, and a spring 72, holding its depending arm over a shoulder 73 faston the rear of the said elevator. This shoulder 73 is, preferably, the top of a vertical bar long enough to maintain contact with the said arm throughout the rise and return of the assembler elevator. When the operator begins to assemble the first line of his take the principal resistant 10 is close up to the assembler wheel 7, and it behaves throughout the assembling of that line as heretofore. If the preliminary assembler 25 is shorter than the assembler elevator 9, the assembled line will fill the former and eX- tend into the latter for a corresponding distance, the resistant 10 being close up to its left -hand end. The upward turn of the crank pin 60 from the bottom dead point to its top one makes the transferring finger 26 enter the preliminary assembler 25 immediately to the right of the assembled line, i. 6., between it and the assembler wheel 7. In this position, a roller 74L turning on a horizontal axis projecting to the rear from the said finger 26, rests on the top of the rear rail of the preliminary assembler 25 and rolls along that rail and then along the rear rail of the assembler elevator 9, as the finger 26 transfers the line. When this transfer is complete, the assembled line is supported in the elevator 9 between the principal resistant 10 on the left hand and the pawls 8, 8 on the right. The assembler elevator 9 with the line in it, must be forthwith and automatically raised to enable it to deliver the line to the next organ of the machine, and which organ in the case of a Mergenthaler linotype machine, is the shifter 12, 13. The automatic raising means consist of a helical spring 75 resilient in an upward direction between the bottom of its cylinder 76 fixed to the machine frame 1 at a convenient distance beneath the bottom position of the assembler elevator 9, a piston 77 working in the said cylinder, and a connecting rod 78 from the piston 77 to the said elevator. The spring 75 is, therefore, compressed by each return of the assembler elevator 9. Before, however, the extension of the spring 75 can raise the elevator 9, the locking lever 71 above described must be disengaged from the shoulder 7 3. This disengagement is effected by the cross head 27 striking a stud 79 fast to and held in its path by the upper arm of a bell crank lever 80 behind the two assemblers 9 and 25, fulcrumed at 81 on the machine frame 1, and having its lower arm in permanent operative contact with the upper arm of the unlocking lever 71. The engagement of the cross head 27 with the lever 80 disengages the locking lever 71 simultaneously with the last element in the assembled line passing the pawls 8, 8. The assembler elevator 9 is forthwith raised and delivers the line to the shifter 12, 13, its pin 18 disengaging the shifter detent 17, the spring 75 maintaining the elevator 9 in line delivering position. The resistant 10 is returned automatically toward its initial posit-ion as heretofore as soon as the rise of the elevator 9, has carried all the elements of the assembled line in it, clear thereof. It should be noted that the resistant 10 is returned toward, and not quite into, its initial position, because the first portion of the second line will have been assembled by the time the said resistant 10 is started on its return, as will appear later on.

The assembler elevator 9 is automatically returned into register with the preliminary assembler 25, by any organ, of the machine that moves at the right time and with sufficient force for the purpose. Preference is given in the case of a Mergenthaler linotype machine, to the organ known as the first elevator, 19, because it is near the assembler elevator 9 and moves downward immediately after the shifter 12, 13, has taken the line out of the same. The necessary connection between the two elevators 19 and 9, consists of a stud 82 on the first elevator 19; a lateral projection 83 working in a vertical slotted guide 84: fast on the machine frame 1, by the side of and parallel with the said elevator 19, the projection 83 standing in the downwardpath of the said stud; a cord 86 fast to and led from the projection 83 upward'over a pulley 87 on the top of guide 8 t, downward over a second pulley 88 on the machine frame 1, under a third one 89 likewise on the said frame 1 and upward to the assembler elevator 9 to which it is made fast at 90. At the moment the said elevator 9 registers again with the preliminary assembler 25, the spring 72 locks it in that position. In the Mergenthaler machine, it is often necessary to rock the vise top 23 downward to the front and pull the mold carrier 24% forward for examination. To meet such a requirement, the top of the guide 84 is pivoted on the machine frame 1, say at the axis of the pulley 87 and the guide itself has an eye 91 on it and a cooperating pin 92 pendent from the said frame, whereby it can be held in working position by passing the pin 92 through the eye 91 into a socket in the machine frame, and freed to be swung to one side, by drawing the said pin 92 out of both socket and eye 91 and replacing it in the socket after the guide 84 has been swung past the latter.

Return of the transfe-rring finger 26 t0 the normal positz'ma The second half revolution of the crank pin 60 from the top dead point to the bottom one, will have raised the slide 42 to its normal position and brought the cam 6% up into contact with the cam 69, whereby the clutch was opened and the slide 42 left in that position. The last described position of the finger 26 was that of supporting the right hand of the assembled line then in the assembler elevator nary resistant is a horizontal bar 101 work- 9, under the action of the spring 33, limited ing through the slots 102 in the front rail of however by the closing ring 32 and with its the preliminary assembler 25 and long roller 74 resting on the back rail of the enough to project across the same so as to 5 said elevator, the latter being, at the time, act as resistant to a line. The front end of 70 still in register with the preliminary assem this resistant is pivoted on to the top of a bler 25. It 110w becomes necessary to raise lever 103 fast upon a horizontal rod 104 the finger 26 to its original level, to then turning and sliding in guides 105, 106, 107, return it to its normal position, such return respectively fast upon the front face of the including its reengagement with the slide preliminary assembler 25 or upon a pro- 7 42. It is raised nearly to its original level, longation of it. 108 is a shoulder on the sliding upward through the cross head 27, underside of the preliminary resistant 101; by the first part of the rise of the assem- 109, a second shoulder upon the front rail bler elevator 9, and the completion of that of the preliminary assembler immediately raising and its return to its normal posiunder the preliminary resistant 101; and 80 tion including its reengageinent with he 110 a spring fast to the lever 103 and pressslide 42, are effected by the following means. ing the said resistant downward, the re- 93 is a stud so positioned on the back of the spective positions of the two shoulders 108, assembler elevator 9 as to be in the pl ne 109, anl the turning movement of the rod of the lever but a little below the lower 104:, being such that if the bottom end of the arm of it when the said elevator is in regisl v r 103 i r eked up to the preliminary ter with the preliminary assembler 25. 94 assembler 25, the preliminary resistant 101 see detail Figs. 11, 12-is an upwardly and is withdrawn therefrom till its rear end is leftwardly extending arm pivoted at on fl h with th rear face of the front rail of 25 the rear of the preliminary assembler 25 to th said assembler and locked in that posirock in a plane parallel with the movement tion by the spring 110 engaging the shoulof the finger 26. It rests normally against der 108 in front of the shoulder 109.

a stop pin 96. 97 is an arm 0 e o t Whether the resistant 101 is withdrawn side of the arm 94 and 98 an arm. on the from the preliminary assembler 25 or 30 rear side of it, alined with and held fast to whether it is in operative position across it, 95 *ach other by an axle pin parallel wi h he it and the lever 103 and rod 101- can travel pivot 95 and turning in the top end f the in both directions for the full length of the arm 94-. The two arms 97, 98 normally eX slot 102. The normal position of the resisttend upward from left to right being kept ant 101-the one it occupies during the time 35 in that position by a spring 99 fast to the the ope 'ator is composing the first line of 100 arm 97 and bearing upon the boss f the bell his take, is the withdrawn one and close up crank lever 80. The top left-h nd edge of to the assembler wheel 7. The assembling the arm 97 merges in a horizontal edge 0 motion of the preliminary resistant 101 is which serves as a step leading to the said automatically braked by a bar 111 sustop edge, which is functionally an incline ded by a pivot 112 at right angles with 105 toward the notch 45 in the top of the slide the axis of the rod 104, from the top of the 42. As the assembler elevator 9 continues guide 106, and having a hole through it to rise, the stud 93 rocks the bell crank slightly larger than the said rod but conlever 80 up and makes the stud 7 9 return centric with it. 113 is a spring seated in the 45 the cross head 27 and therefore the finger bott m end of th uid 106 and resilient 110 20 with it, the roller 74: on the latter being between it and the adjacent face of the bar thereby moved off the assembler elevator 9 111, so that each time the preliminary reon to the step 100 and up the incline pl0- sistant 101 stops after the entrance of line vided by the arm 97. Meanwhile the short elementinto the preliminary assembler 25,

50 arm of the lever 80 comes up to the top end waiting for the next element to move it on of the arm 98 and rocks that end to the again, the spring 113 makes the top left right, thereby rocking the said incline up edge and the bottom right edge of the hole till the top 16 of the finger 20 registers with in the bar 111, grip the rod 104 and thereby the notch 45, with which it is reengaged by brake the preliminary resistant 101, the 55 the continued motion of the lever 80. This brake being automatically taken off the said reengagement is simultaneous with the asrod as soon as the said resistant resumes its sembler elevator 9 attaining its line deliverassembling motion. 114 is a cam piece held ing position. As it returns into register fast to the principal resistant 10 by a bar with the preliminary assembler 25, the lever 115 which is itself fast to the assembler 80 follows it till it is again in Contact with slide bar 11. 116 is a cooperating cam piece the lever 71, while the arms 94., 97 and 98 on the lower am of the lever 103. Both are returned to their respective normal pothese cam pieces are positioned and shaped sitions by gravity and the spring 99.

relatively to each other that the preliminary Preliminary resistant and action of the resistant 101 being across the preliminary 65 preliminary assembler 25.The prelimiassembler 25 and supporting the first ele- 1 ment of the respective line therein, and the principal resistant 10 being on its return, the cam 114 shall engage the cam 116 and thereby turn the rod 104 (for the lever 103 is fast thereto) enough to withdraw the preliminary resistant 101, whereupon the principal resistant 10 supplants the preliminary one 101 as a supporter of the said first element. As soon as the preliminary resistant 101 is so withdrawn, its spring 110 engages its shoulder 108 in front of the shoulder '109. 117 is a notch across the supporting face of the resistant 10 large enough to allow of it straddling the other resistant 101, in order that it shall get well into elementsupporting position before the resistant 101 is out of it. 118 is a bar positioned between the brake 111 and the fixed guide 107. It is bored out to surround the rod 104, but loosely so that the latter can slide through it easily in either direction. It is connected to the said rod in such a way that both must turn together. The connection is shown as consisting of a pin 11.9 passed through the bar 118 into a groove 120 in the bar 104, this groove being only wide enough and deep enough to receive the end of the said pin and move over it and long enough to permit of the necessary motion of the resistant 101 lengthwise of the preliminary assembler 121 is a cam piece on the bottom end of the bar 118 and held by it in front of the bottom end of the brake 111, so that when the return of the principal rcsistant 10, withdraws the preliminary assembler 101, the said cam 121 engages the said bottom end of the brake 111 and rocks it to the left against the resilience of the spring 113 thereby taking the brake off the rod 104, whereupon the preliminary resistant 101 is returned to its normal position above described, together with its connected parts, its shoulder 108 sliding along the shoulder 109. This return is effectedv by a spring 122 pulling from a fixed point 123 on the preliminary assembler 25, on a lever 124 fulcrumed at 125 and engaging with a stud 126 on the rod 104.

The resistant 101 must be put into operative position across the assembler 25 as soon as the transferring movement of the finger 20 has made room for it. This is done during the descent of the slide 42, by a shoulder 127 on it adapted to engage a lever 128 fulcrumed at 129 on the assembler 25, and thereby making a push rod 130 connected to its front end and extended upward to be within striking distance of the resistant 101 when the latter is close up to the assembler wheel 7 but locked out of the assembler 25. Thus the rise of the push rod 130 rocks the resistant 101 up on the pivot that connects it to the lever 103, against the pressure of the spring 110, whereupon a spring 131 resilient between the face of the assembler 25 and the bottom of the bar 118, rocks the said bottom to the front, thereby turning the rod 104 in its guides 105 to 107 and. puts the resistant 101 into operative position. The shoulder 127 is shown as being provided by the top of a slot in the slide 42, the bottom of the slot serving as a stop for the lever 128. The latter together with the push rod 130 are returned to their normal position-the one shown in Fig. 4'by the next rise of the slide 42.

U 86 and action of the iowcati0a.-The parts are in the normal position at the commencement of a fresh job, i. 6., the transferring finger 26 is engaged with the slide 42 and above the entrance mouth of the preliminary assembler 25, the preliminary assembler 101 close to the same entrance mouth but locked out of operative position, the assembler elevator 9 locked in register with the preliminary assembler 25, and the lever 80, arms 94, 97 and 98 in the position shown in Fig. 1. The operator begins assembling his first line. The assembler wheel 7 drives the elements of it successively into and together through thepreliminary assembler 25 and as far into the assembler elevator 9 as the length of the line makes it extend. As soon as he has depressed the finger key for the last element of that line, he depresses the special finger key 38, and forthwith begins assembling the second line. The depression of the finger key 88 causes the closure of the clutch; simultaneous descent of the slide 42, entrance of the finger 20 into the preliminary assembler, and unlocking of the crosshead 27; transfer of the first line into the assembler elevator and the positioning of the preliminary resistant 101 across the respective assembler 25; unlocking of the assembler elevator 9; elevation of the latter; return of the transferring finger 26 and crosshead 27 reengagement of the finger 2G with the already returned slide 42 and locking of the crosshead 27 in the corresponding position.

The return of the assembler elevator 9 into register with the preliminary assembler 25 occurs immediately after the finger 26 and crosshead 27 have been returned so that it will be in register before it is wanted to receive the second line. But the important feature in the cycle of operations is the positioning of the preliminary resistant 101 across the preliminary assembler 25 before the first element of the second line can be up to the mouth of the assembler. This positioning is effected be it noted by the descent of the slide 42 through. the

spring 131. The cooperation of shoulder 127, lever 128 and push rod 130 are simultaneous with the latter part of the said descent.

immediately after and in itself instantaneshoulder 127 lever 128, push rod 180 and The action of the sprmg 131 is ous. Omitting the action of the spring, the said cooperation takes place during half a rotation of the roller The average compositor makes 120 key depressions on the keyboard 2, in a minute, and the roller makes 250 revolutions in the same time, so that as the descent of the slide 12 is synchronous with the first half of one of its revolutions, it is quite certain that the preliminary resistant 101 will be in position in good time to support the first element of the second line 011 its entry into the preliminary assembler 25.

The use and action of the invention with the second and each succeeding line of the job, differs from the use and action of it with the first line, only in the preliminary resistant 101 being called into action, used, supplanted by the returning principal resistant 10, and placed ready for being repositioned across the mouth of the preliminary assembler 25 for the next line.

The ordinary finger keys of the keyboard 2 are the respective means by which the operator actuates the escapements of the different elements and so far it is possible to replace the keyboard by a system of electric circuits or by a perforated mechanical controller. It is to be understood that the special finger key 38 may be similarly replaced by a special circuit or a special perforation in a mechanical controller, the said special key and its substitutes being referred to in the claims as special means.

l In considering the scope of the invention, note must be taken of two facts, one, that the detail construction of the several organs of the machine, may be varied to any extent provided that the respective functions are retained; and the other, that the relative directions of movement mentioned above in connection with the application of the in vention to the Mergenthaler machine, are dictated by the construction and operation of that machine and not by the nature of the invention. These directions may, consequently, be varied to suit the construction and action of the machine to which the in vention is to be applied. Thus in respect of relative directions, the assembler elevator 9 moves in a vertical one. But it is clear that, as far as the invention itself is concerned, the only function of the said elevator that is material to the invention, is that of receiving the assembled line. As to it being movable to and from the next organ of the machine, linotype machines are known in which the organ that so moves the assembled line, has a horizontal movement. Such an organ can be unlocked, moved to so move the assembled line, made to return the finger 26, be itself returned and relocked, by obvious variations of the respective means above specified. Further, the assembler elevator 9, forms no part of the invention inasmuch as it might be, as far as the latter is concerned, stationary in constant register with the preliminary asse1n bler, the shifter 12, 13, and first elevator 19 being on the same level as the latter. In such an arrangement the said shifter would rank as the assembler that is moved away with the assembled line in it; the first elevator 19, as the next organ of the machine; and the principal resistant 10, as the organ whose return to its assembling position, is necessary to enable the operator to assemble the next line.

Ve claim,

1. The combination in a typographical composing machine of line assembling means; a movable assembler; a preliminary assembler normally interposed between said movable assembler and said means; a line shifter operative in said preliminary assembler; and locking means for said shifter operative when said movable assembler is moved out of register with said preliminary assembler.

2. The combination in a typographical composing machine of line assembling means; a movable assembler; a preliminary assembler normally interposed between said movable assembler and said means; a line shifter operative in said preliminary assembler; a bell crank lever in operative relation with said movable assembler; and a stop on said lever in the path of said shifter.

3. The combination in a typographical composing machine of line assembling means comprising an assembler wheel; a movable assembler; a preliminary assembler normally interposed between said movable assembler and said means; a line shifter normally supported above said wheel; means operative on said shifter to move said shifter down into said preliminary assembler between said wheel and the assembled line and therefore in the same direction of movement as the adjacent part of said wheel; and driving means adapted to give said shifter line shifting movement.

4. The combination in a typographical composing machine of line assembling means; a movable assembler; a preliminary assembler normally interposed between said movable assembler and said means; a line shifter; means operative upon said shifter to give it line shifting movement; means operative upon said movable assembler to rei move it from said preliminary assembler; and an operative connection between said movable assembler and said shifter adapted to return said shifter to its initial position during such removal.

5. The combination in a. typographical composing machine of line assembling means; a movable assembler; a preliminary assembler normally interposed between said movable assembler and said means; a line shifter; a slider in engagement with said line shifter above said assembling means; means operative upon said shifter to move it down into said assembler between said as sembling means and the assembled line;

means operative upon said slider to give shifter; a slider in engagement with said 3 line shifter above said assembling means; a support for said line shifter adapted to normally hold the latter out of the assembler; means operative on said support to lower same to bring said shifter into said assembler; means operative upon said slider to give said shifter line shifting movement away from said support; means operative on said support for returning it; means operative upon said movable assembler to remove it from said preliminary assembler; and an operative connection between said movable assembler and said shifter adapted to return said shifter to said support during such removal.

7. The combination in a typographical composing machine of line assembling means; a movable assembler; a preliminary assembler normally interposed between said movable assembler and said means; a line shifter; a slider in engagement with said line shifter above said assemblingmeans; driving means operative upon said slider to give said shifter line shifting movement; a lock operative to retain said slider against the action of said driving means; means operative upon said shifter to move it down into said assembler; an abutment upon the last named means operative upon said lock torelease it; and operative connections between said movable assembler and said slider and between said assembler and said shifter to return said slider and shifter to their initial positions.

8. The combination in a typographical composing machine of line assembling means; a movable assembler; a preliminary assembler normally interposed between said movable assembler and said means; a line shifter; means operative upon said shifter to give it line shifting movement; a roller on said shifter adapted to run upon said assemblers to support said shifter during said movement; means operative upon said movi liminary assembler; and an operative connection' between said movable assembler and said shifter adapted to return said shifter to its initial position during such removal.

9. The combination in a typographical composing 7 machine of line assembling means; a movable assembler; a preliminary assembler normally interposed between said movable assembler and said means; a line shifter; a slider in engagement with said line shifter above said assembling means; a roller revolubly mounted on said shifter above one of the walls of said preliminary assembler; means operative upon said shifter to move it down into said assembler until arrested by said roller contacting with said wall; means operative upon said slider to give said shifter line shifting movement and to bring said roller over the corresponding wall of said movable assembler; means operative upon said movable assembler to raise it; operative connection between said movable assembler and said slider adapted to return said slider; and a temporary support adapted to receive said roller after it has been raised by said movable assembler and to maintain it in the raised position during said return movement. I

10. The combination in a typographical composing machine of line assembling means; a movable assembler; a preliminary assembler normally interposed between said movableassembler and said means; a line shifter operative in said preliminary assembler; driving means operative to remove said movable assembler from said preliminary assembler; a first elevator; and operative connection between said elevator and said assembler adapted to return said assembler to the lower position.

11. The combination in a typographical composing machine of line assembling means; a movable assembler; a preliminary assembler normally interposed between said movable assembler and said means; a line shifter operative in said preliminary assembler; a spring operative on said movable assembler to raise it; a first elevator; and operative connection adapted to return said movable assembler against the action of said spring during the descent of said first elevator.

12. The combination in a typographical composing machine of line assembling means; a movable assembler; a preliminary assembler normally interposed between said movable assembler and saidmeans; a line shifter normally supported above said means; means operative on said shifter to able assembler to remove it from said prematrices; and automatic means operative upon said preliminary resistant to insert it said movement being timed by the descent of said shifter.

13. The combination in a typographical composing machine of line assembling means; a movable assembler; a preliminary assembler normally interposed between said movable assembler and said means; a reciprocatory line shifter having line shifting movement in said preliminary assembler; a main resistant reciprocable in said preliminary assembler and in said movable assembler; a preliminary resistant movable in said preliminary assembler but normally out of line with the assembled matrices; automatic inserting means operative to place said preliminary resistant in resisting position; and automatic withdrawing means operative on said preliminary resistant upon the return of said main resistant to restore said preliminary resistant to its normal position.

14:. The combination in a typographical composing machine of line assembling means; a movable assembler; a preliminary assembler normally interposed between said movable assembler and said means; a line shifter; a slider in engagement with said line shifter; means operative upon said shifter to move it into said assembler; a preliminary resistant movable in said preliminary assembler and normally out of line with the assembled matrices; operative connection between said preliminary resistant and the means operative upon said shifter adapted to insert said resistant into line resisting position behind said shifter; driving means for said slider operative to produce line shifting movement; a main resistant reciprocable in said preliminary assembler and in said movable assembler; and operative connection between said main resistant and said preliminary resistant adapted to withdraw the latter from line resisting position upon return of said main resistant toward said assembling means.

15. The combination in a typographical composing machine, of a preliminary as sembler; a transferring finger normally clear thereof; a spring constantly urging it in the transferring direction; a detent look ing it against the action of the said spring; a slide to disengage the said detent and position the said finger in the said assembler; a rapidly and constantly rotating member; a crank loose thereon; a link and lever connection between the said crank and slide; a clutch between the said crank and rotating member, normally open and self-opening at the end of each rotation of the rotating member; a preliminary resistant; means for putting it into its initial operative position in the preliminary assembler as soon as the transferring finger has begun to transfer; a push rod and lever connection with the said slide to start the said means into action; and special means for closing the clutch.

16. The combination in a typographical composing machine, of a preliminary assembler; a movable assembler normally registering therewith to receive an assembled line therefrom; means for locking the movable assembler in registering position with the preliminary assembler; a transferring finger for transferring the assembled line into the movable assembler; and means actuated by the transferring motion of the said finger to unlock the movable assembler.

17. The combination in a typographical composing machine, of a preliminary as sembler; a movable assembler normally registering therewith to receive an assembled line therefrom; means for locking the movable assembler in registering position with the preliminary assembler; a transferring finger for transferring the assembled line into the movable assembler; means actuated by the transferring motion of the said finger to unlock the movable assembler; automatic means for imparting the said motion to the said finger; automatic means for moving the moving assembler with the assembled line in it to the next organ of the machine; special means for controlling both the said automatic means; and automatic means for returning the movable assembler into registering position with the preliminary assembler.

18. The combination in a typographical composing machine of a preliminary assembler; a movable assembler normally registering therewith to receive an assembled line therefrom; a transferring finger; a slider; key operated means connected with said slider and operative to move said slider toward and from said preliminary assembler; normally intercalatory stops on said finger and said slider; a spring operated piston and rod; a crosshead on said rod hav ing sliding engagement with said finger; a catch on said crosshead normally locking the latter against the action of the spring; an abutment on said slider overlapping said catch and adapted to release the latter upon the entry of said finger into said assembler; spring driving means for said movable assembler; a catch normally locking said movable assembler against the action of said spring driving means; an abutment on said crosshead overlapping the last-named catch and adapted to release the latter upon the completion of line shifting movement; and bell crank lever mechanism operative between said movable assembler and said finger and crosshead to return said finger and crosshead to normal position.

19. The combination in a typographical composing machine of a preliminary assembler; a transferring finger; a spring constantly urging it in the transferring direction; a movable assembler; a spring and bell crank lever to hold the movable assembler locked in registering position with the preliminary assembler; and a second bell crank lever adapted to be rocked by the transferring motion of the said finger and disengage the locking bell crank from the movable assembler.

20. The combination in a typographical composing machine of preliminary assembler; a transferring finger; a spring constantly urging it in the transferring direction; a movable assembler; a bell crank lever to hold the movable assembler locked in registering position with the preliminary assembler; a second bell crank lever adapted to be rocked by the transferring motion of the said finger and disengage the locking bell crank from the movable assembler; means for moving the movable assembler; means for returning it into registering position with the preliminary assembler; and means for looking it thereon.

21. The combination in a typographical composing machine, of movable assembler 9; a transli'erring finger 26; cross head 27;

roller 7st carried by the finger 26 and resting on the latter after it has transferred the assembled line thereinto; lever 80 and arms 94-, J7, 98 adapted to be rocked by the motion of the movable assembler 9 to cooperate with the next organ of the machine and return the finger 26 to its normal position.

22. The combination in a typographical composing machine, of preliminary assembler; preliminary resistant; its brake; automatic means for respectively withdrawing it t'rom the said assembler, for looking it and for returning it to the entrance mouth of the said assembler; and automatic means under control for replacing it in operative position close to said mouth.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals in the presence oi two witnesses.

JOHN ERNES/l BILLINGTON. CHARLES HOLLLIWELL.

\Vitnesses 1 ltLras Snawcnor'r TnoMAs \VILLIAM HENRY SHAME. 

